Scope: Roots play a crucial role in plant life and ecosystem functions, anchoring plants in soil, acquiring nutrient and water and creating habitats for root-associated microbes. Given the array of challenges plants and ecosystems are confronted with, e.g. climate change, soil degradation and nutrient imbalances, the question is what role roots can play in tackling these challenges for plant life and the ecosystems they grow in. For one whether root phenotypic plasticity can counter environmental challenges as drought, water logging or increased climatic variability.
Significant research has been done on plant responses to changes in the environment, in which an important role for roots has been recognized. However, given the complexity of belowground dynamics and measurement thereof, understanding root functioning remains challenging. Recent novel technologies and methodologies may hereby give support in finding insight and solutions to the challenges mentioned. Moreover, there is increased understanding of roots in natural ecosystems and how this insight can help making our crops more resource efficient, while work on below-ground resource efficiency in agricultural ecosystems enriches ecological theories. Effectively coupling studies of root responses to the environment at various spatial and temporal scales would give promising impact towards addressing the role of roots in current and future, climate-changed, natural and agricultural ecosystems. These questions need to be addressed given the essence roots play in the production of food for man and the herbivorous life on earth.
The central scope of this course will be the fundamental concepts of root ecology, with a focus on root interactions with the abiotic and biotic environment. Specific topics will include:
- Root architecture and soil resource acquisition
- Root interactions with soil microorganisms
- Root phenotyping
- Root anatomy and soil resource acquisition
- Methods and technology in Root research
Target group: The course is aimed at PhD candidates, postdocs, and other academics
Course duration: 5 days
Contact: PE&RC Office: office.pe@wur.nl
Registration of interest: You can register your interest HERE (note: this is not an official registration).
